, and were steering our course for
Holyhead, when suddenly we perceived the ship of war close to us, and
to leeward. She had been lying with her mainsail to the mast, but she
evidently had made us out, for she filled and set top-gallant sails.

I immediately hauled my wind, and as soon as she had way, she tacked
and followed in pursuit, being then right astern of us, about half a
mile off. It was very dark, and I knew that as our sails were set, and
we bore from her, it would be difficult for her to keep us in sight,
as we only presented what we call the feather-edge of our sails to
her. I therefore steered on under all sail, and finding that the
schooner weathered on her, I kept her away a little, so as to retain
the same bearings, and to leave her faster.

In an hour we could not make out the ship, and were therefore certain
that she could not see us; so, as I wanted to get clear of her, and be
at Holyhead as soon as possible, I lowered down all the sails and put
my helm up, so as to cross her and run to leeward under bare poles,
while she continued her windward chase. This stratagem answered, and
we saw no more of her; for, two hours afterwards, we fell in with the
Arrow, and, hailing her, we both made sail down the Bristol Channel as
fast as we could, and at daybreak there was no vessel in sight, and of
course we had nothing more to fear from the Liverpool cruiser.

As we now sailed rapidly along in company, with the wind on our
quarter, it was high time for me to look to my passengers, who had
remained on deck in perfect silence from the time that they had come
on board. I therefore went up to them, and apologized for not having
as yet paid them that attention that I should have wished to have done
under other circumstances.

"Captain," replied the oldest of them, with a courteous salute, "you
have paid us every attention; you have been extremely active in saving
our lives, and we return you our sincere thanks."

"Yes, indeed," replied a young and handsome man who stood next him,
"Mr. Elrington has saved us from the toils of our enemies; but now
that we are in no fear from that quarter, I must tell him that we have
hardly had a mouthful of food for twenty-four hours, and if he wishes
to save our lives a second time, it will be by ordering a good
breakfast to be prepared for us."

"Campbell speaks the truth, my dear Sir," said the one who had first
spoken. "We have lately gained the knowledge of what it is to